Community Arts

Spirit of Mumbai

By Alyson Brodsy and Jordan DeLong · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:17 p.m.

Living in Washington, I take the Metro all the time. It's a fantastic way to commute, shuffling thousands of people around every day -- but also opening them to the risk of terrorist attacks. When I heard about yesterday's bombings in Mumbai (formally Bombay), India, my heart skipped a beat. Watching bloodied, wounded people being pulled from trains brought to mind all the times I've been on the subway here, and how vulnerable you really can be. I can imagine it. Trains crammed full of average, hardworking people trying to get home to their families - a split second later, there are people dying and injured.

Contracts, marriage and God

By IDS staff and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:16 p.m.

The movement for same-sex marriage has delivered a series of judicial body-blows this past week. The New York Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's constitution did not provide gay couples a right to the institution. Shortly afterward, the Supreme Court of Georgia reinstated an anti-same-sex-marriage constitutional amendment. Then, on Tuesday, Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court -- the court whose ruling led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Bay State -- ruled that the legislature could ban it through a constitutional amendment. Ouch.

"Bubble-ologists" have fun with science

By Bethany Bannister-Andrews and Bethany BannisterAndrews · Wednesday, July 12,2006 7:14 p.m.

"Bubble-ologists" will take over Bloomington Frank Southern Ice Arena Friday. Bloomington's hands-on science museum, WonderLab, and Bloomington Parks and Recreation have teamed up for the 11th consecutive year to create the day-long BubbleFest, which is dedicated to the science and fun of bubbles. This annual, Bloomington-exclusive event invites people of all ages to become Bubble-ologists through the experiments and activities WonderLab will present. More than 20 different bubble-related activities will be set up in the arena for discovery and hands-on learning. More than 180 WonderLab volunteers have signed up to assist visitors and the WonderLab staff.

The man comes around one more time

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Freiberg · Wednesday, July 12,2006 12:17 p.m.

Like most Americans with a full head of teeth and no extra chromosomes, I despise country music with a passion. Johnny Cash, however, is a different matter altogether. Yes, he was a country artist, but he was also a rebel, a rocker and a great storyteller. All in all, he was one of the greatest singer-songwriters to ever live. American V: A Hundred Highways, the first of two posthumous releases from Cash under Rick Rubin's American Recordings Label emphasizes these qualities on nearly every track. The album opens with "Help Me," a moving call for aid from the Lord delivered with Cash's trademark sharp clear vocal style. As this is the first of many songs with Christian overtones in it, the track sets up the album as almost more of a gospel effort than country.

A Dog's Life

By Alyson Brodsy and Meghan Lucas · Wednesday, July 12,2006 12:09 p.m.

Masters of slobber. Companions without question. Fetchers of all things imaginable. Dogs have been hailed as man's best friend and if the true test of a friend is who loves you when you're broke, tired, and testy, then our furry companions take the cake (and sometimes our favorite shoes). As a special treat for their canine companions, some dog enthusiasts have found a special space for their pooch to run free and socialize with other dogs at the Griffey Lake dog run. "Where I am from in Washington D.C, the dog park is the hub of social activity," Allison, the mom of two playful pugs, said. "People stand around and talk about their dogs. It's pretty great."

Counting down to the 'Metalocalypse'

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob O'Connor · Wednesday, July 12,2006 12:06 p.m.

This summer could certainly be considered a transitional period for Brendon Small. The fourth and final season of his first series, "Home Movies," came to DVD in June. And on August 6, his newest series, "Metalocalypse," will premiere on the Cartoon Network programing block [adult swim]. Brendon agreed to an interview with the Weekend to discuss the end of Brendon, Jason and Melissa, and the beginning of Dethklok.

Wild at Heart

By Alyson Brodsy and Carrie Ritchie · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:58 a.m.

One of the state's best-kept secrets borders a tiny gravel road off of Highway 46 in Center Point, Ind., about an hour west of Bloomington. The entrance, almost hidden, leads to a stretch of land with some unexpected inhabitants -- almost 200 exotic cats. Exotic Feline Rescue Center owner Joe Taft walked slowly up a grass path between an enclosure with two servals and another with three lions. Even with his baseball cap on he squinted into the sun as he approached the chain link fence, the only thing that separates the cats from the humans at the center.

Protest!

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:56 a.m.

Pearl Jam's "VH1 Storytellers" installment that aired the week before last was typically poignant for said series, but there was one moment that overshadowed all the rest. Near the end of the program, Eddie Vedder introduced a cover of Phil Ochs' "Here's to the State of Mississippi" that tore the Bush Administration a new asshole and brought a tear to my eye. Independence Day wasn't far off, and understanding that nothing was more inherently American than dissent, I was inspired to piece together my list of the top 12 protest songs ever sung.

Cheaper than crack and just as addictive

By Alyson Brodsy and Fryburg84 · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:55 a.m.

"UNO" on Xbox Live Arcade is exactly like the card game. That's the best compliment I can give it and also the biggest complaint that I have. For those of us who never played the game when we were kids, the object of "UNO" is to empty your hand of cards by filling your opponents' hands by using special cards, skipping their turns and just by all around screwing them over. Since all the shuffling and dealing is handled by the computer and the interface is extremely clean and easy to use, the gameplay is fast and furious, almost too fast to plan out any kind of strategy, but this also keeps the game from getting boring.

Criterion goes cult with 'Equinox'

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:51 a.m.

Every once in awhile the Criterion Collection likes to throw a curveball at its supporters in the form of a cult release; whether it be "The Blob," " Fiend Without a Face" or one of my personal favorites, "Carnival of Souls," nobody ever expects these releases. So how does a seemingly C-grade movie about a group of teenagers who find a book on the occult and release monsters from the very depths of Hell make it in the first place? One name: Dennis Muren.

Launch delayed

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:47 a.m.

Yeah…so when your movie sucks it's probably not such a great idea to put "failure" in the title. Matthew McConaughey plays eligible bachelor, Tripp, who at 35 years old, still lives with his parents. Frustrated by their situation, and jealous of their friend's sex lives (which brings back bad memories of Kathy Bates' "About Schmidt" hot tub scene), Tripp's parents (Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to date their son and get him to move out for good. Just like with McConaughey's "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days," (in which both leads have hidden agendas for why they want the relationship to falter) a premise that could make for a decent romantic comedy is wrongly executed, resulting in crap. It'd make more sense if Paula had found the man of her dreams, only to learn he still lives at home. And then maybe with some help from the parents, works to get him to leave; not because she is being paid to do so. Paula calls herself a "professional interventionist," which sounds more like a fancy term for hooker.

Brosnan trades in the tux, but keeps the gun

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:46 a.m.

It's hard to star as the famous James Bond and then successfully move on to a different role. Yet, Pierce Brosnan seems to have done it with "The Matador" and he is able to prove that he is not just James Bond. Brosnan stars in this dark comedy as Julian Noble, a hit man who is on assignment in Mexico. While there, Julian begins to realize that he has no one- no friends, no family and no place he can call home. Desperate to find some sort of companionship, Julian befriends Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), a normal guy who is just in town for regular business. Although, at first Julian comes off hard and as a jerk and he scares Danny away. The following day, Julian expresses his apologies and insists that Danny accompanies him to a bullfight. At the fight, the two get to talking about their lives and jobs, and Julian decides to tell Danny about his job. As both of their stays in Mexico come to an end, the two go their separate ways with no intentions of ever seeing each other again.

Dylan's revelatory comeback

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:44 a.m.

Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding is one of the most fascinating albums in the history of rock and roll for one simple reason. Dylan had released five of the most important and influential albums imaginable from 1963 to 1966, and ended up in self-imposed exile after a near-fatal motorcycle accident 40 years ago this month. Instead of dying in the crash; after which his mythologized status would've grown exponentially with the likes of Hendrix, Lennon, Shakur, Cobain, Wallace, Joplin and Morrison; Dylan survived, heading back into the studio less than a year after the crash.

An intimate but weak testimony

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:41 a.m.

India.Arie is one of a handful of recent artists who are keeping R&B music alive and well. Similarly to counterparts such as Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, to name a few, Arie blends her beautifully tuned voice with modern day hip-hop rhythms and instrumentation to create a unique style that is still reminiscent of Motown and R&B artists of the past such as Minnie Riperton or Tammi Terrell. Arie's first two albums, Acoustic Soul and Voyage to India, were both very enjoyable records that toyed with an array of different styles and sounds, while also featuring very intimate lyrics by Arie. Although her new album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship, is similar to its predecessors, it falls below average due to a lack of musical diversity (even with a number of musical guests including electric bass maestro Vic Wooten and folk rockers Rascal Flatts) and a reliance on overly heavy, often uninteresting lyrics.

Rising to the occasion

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Green · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:34 a.m.

When I think of modern day punk rock, a few names come to mind. Bad Religion, NOFX, Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls and Rise Against. Rise Against is back with a new one entitled The Sufferer and the Witness, their second release on major label Geffen after jumping from Fat Wreck Chords (owned by Fat Mike of NOFX). What we have is 13 punk rock anthems that mash high-energy punk rock with melody and emotion to create a stunning record. Rise Against are not new to the punk scene. Formed from the ashes of punk stalwarts 88 Fingers Louie, Rise Against put out their debut The Unraveling on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. What would result is a fast, raw and catchy punk gem that would push these Chicago natives forward to become a huge band in the punk world. The Sufferer and the Witness is Rise Against's fourth album, and it is a polished bit of punk rock greatness.

Eight-letter word for crossword puzzle movie.

By Alyson Brodsy and K. A. MacDonald · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:09 a.m.

Let's play a word game: Give me an anagram of INTERCOASTAL that means fights. "Wordplay" is a documentary about a crossword puzzle tournament. If you are still reading after that last sentence, then you just might enjoy the film. The movie is full of wordplay and clever language and people who know far too much. But there is also a pretty intense competition with some edge of your seat suspense. There is even a crossword related soundtrack. The theme song includes the chorus "If you don't come across, I'm gonna be down." Get it…Across and Down…crossword puzzles…Anyways.

Drug addiction, darkly

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:08 a.m.

Science fiction author Philip K. Dick once said that, "Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgment." The author, best known for his sci-fi short stories of the 60s and 70s, wrote his novel, "A Scanner Darkly," as an allegory for the troubling epidemic of drug abuse that was plaguing not only those around him, but also himself (he was a speed junkie) during the early '70s. The story is science fiction, relying heavily on futuristic technological advancements, but only on its surface. Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly" marks the eighth film adaptation of a Dick story and is on par with previous successful films such as "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report."

Everyone loves Pirates

By Alyson Brodsy and Derek Kagemann · Wednesday, July 12,2006 11:06 a.m.

I have a confession to make. As a child, Pirates of the Caribbean was my favorite Walt Disney ride. The animatronic pirates were a swarthy and rum-soaked lot who drank, wenched and sang raucously from every stretch of sand and plank. Though the spectacle was arranged with tongue-in-cheek wit, a somber mood of grim piracy pervaded everything. There was cannon smoke in the air, the chill damp of sea caves and the flickering of prison torches. I walked away chewing on gunpowder grit and happily brandished my souvenir pistol all the rest of the day.

Federer wins 4th Wimbledon title

By Aaron Beard and Stephen Wilson · Monday, July 10,2006 1:23 a.m.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Nobody can stop Roger Federer on grass. No. 1 got even against No. 2 as Federer ended a five-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal on Sunday, winning 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3 to earn his fourth straight Wimbledon title and eighth Grand Slam championship . Nadal had beaten Federer in four finals this year, including at the French Open last month, but couldn't match him on the Swiss star's favorite surface. Not here, not in my house, not on Centre Court, not on the biggest stage in tennis. That was Federer's response to the 20-year-old Spaniard's challenge.

Rocking out with Tommy Lee

By Sarah Core · Monday, July 10,2006 1:23 a.m.

It's on. Last week, the second season of the reality show "Rock Star" started, with Tommy Lee's new band Supernova on the hunt for an unknown performer to front them, and I for one am thrilled by this year's 15 finalists. For those of you who have never seen "Rock Star" in all of its glory, I like to think of it as an "American Idol" with people that can actually sing.